Drought and violence in Somalia

Somalia faces a devastating mix of conflict, climate disasters, disease, and poverty. Over 5.9 million people need assistance, and 3.5 million are already displaced – many more than once. These overlapping crises are making it near impossible for families to find safety or rebuild their lives. There is also an extreme shortage of shelter.

Decades of violence, including civil war and attacks by armed groups like Al-Shabaab, have torn the country apart. Almost 1 in 2 people in Somalia are affected. Families live in overcrowded camps or makeshift shelters without clean water, food, or healthcare. Evictions are also common because people lack legal rights to the land they settle on.

Somalia is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. From 2020 to 2023, it endured the worst drought in 40 years, followed by devastating floods and a severe locust outbreak. These disasters are tracked in Somalia climate maps and climate graphs, which underscore the urgency of the crisis.

Another long drought is expected in 2025, with below-average rains already reported. People still recovering from past disasters are now bracing for the next.

To make matters worse, humanitarian funding is shrinking. Over 60% of aid groups in Somalia rely on U.S. support, and many have had to cut staff. Other donors in Europe are also reducing support.

This is a question that becomes more urgent every year. Somalia has suffered decades of conflict, but that’s only part of the story. People are being forced to flee their homes by both violence and extreme weather. Some escape fighting only to be hit by droughts or floods in the places they sought safety.

Resources like land and water are running out, and this is fuelling more conflict amid political change. For generations, families relied on livestock and seasonal farming. Now, Somalia’s climate changes have disrupted rainfall patterns and decimated grazing lands. Persistent drought has left families fighting for access to water and land where their animals can graze.

Between 2020 and 2023, Somalia suffered extreme drought, the worst in 40 years, followed by flooding and a massive locust invasion. These shocks wiped out crops and killed livestock, leaving families with no way to earn a living.

People are now living in makeshift shelters built from sticks, tarpaulin, scraps of metal – whatever they can find. Overcrowded and informal camps are vulnerable to disease outbreaks. Land tenure disputes are also rising. In 2024 alone, tens of thousands were evicted.

Meanwhile, armed groups like Al-Shabaab have used drought conditions to tighten control. They’ve blocked aid and charged communities for basic resources like water and firewood. The burden falls heaviest on women and children, who remain at risk of exploitation and violence.

Women and children mostly live in displacement camps, as men either stay home or are forbidden to leave by armed groups. This leaves women at high risk of sexual violence, and children at risk of being taken as child soldiers. In the camps, people are desperate. With few options, some are turning to the only work available – joining armed groups as paid fighters.

The crisis continues as heavy rains continue to cause flash floods, and another long drought is expected.

Despite everything, Somalia contributes less to global carbon emissions than the U.S. emits in three days. The country pays a high price for a crisis it did little to cause.

We’re building stronger, more climate-resilient shelters in a way that protects the environment. Shelters are being constructed to withstand Somalia’s harsh climate, with high daytime heat, cold nights, and increasingly unpredictable rains.

We’re focusing on long-term solutions to improve safety, stability, and people’s ability to adapt.

In Dollow, we’re building mudbrick shelters coated with cement for insulation. These shelters stay cooler during the day, warmer at night, and are designed to handle seasonal flooding. They also include windows and lockable doors for privacy, and enough space for families to gather.

In Baidoa, simple timber-frame shelters can be upgraded over time. We use imported timber to prevent deforestation. Shelters are built on raised stone plinths to reduce flood risk.

People on the move often face eviction from the land they seek refuge on. That’s why, with Juba Foundation, we’ve worked with landowners and local authorities to secure land rights for displaced people. People are guaranteed tenancy agreements for at least two years. This means they don’t have to worry about being evicted and can start to rebuild their lives.

Community members are also trained and paid to build mudbricks and perform light repairs using distributed toolkits.